SportsNews: Rory McIlroy delivers the winner as live golf returns to TV

Rory McIlroy delivered the cash shot Sunday as live golf returned to tv for a Skins recreation that exposed loads of rust and raised greater than $5 million for COVID-19 reduction funds.

McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, who had not received a pores and skin since the sixth gap, had an opportunity to win the remaining six skins value $1.1 million on the remaining gap at Seminole in the TaylorMade Driving Relief exhibition. Both missed they usually returned to the par-3 17th for a closest-to-the-pin contest.

From a ahead tee at 120 yards, Matthew Wolff was 18 toes beneath the gap. His companion, Rickie Fowler, missed the inexperienced. Johnson discovered a bunker. Down to the final shot, McIlroy barely stayed on the shelf left of the pin, measured at 13 toes.

“Air five,” McIlroy mentioned, alluding to the social distancing in place at Juno Beach, Florida.

The remaining carryover gave McIlroy and Johnson $1.85 million for the American Nurses Foundation. Fowler, who made seven birdies, and Wolff made $1.15 million for the CDC Foundation.

“I’m proud to be part of an event to entertain people at home on a Sunday afternoon and to raise money for people who need it,” McIlroy mentioned as he performed the 18th gap.

Wolff, the 21-year-old Californian with large recreation and loads of swagger, earned $450,000 towards reduction funds by having the longest drives on two par 5s — 356 yards on No. 2 and 368 yards on No. 14.

Fowler’s seven birdies have been value $270,000 in a separate fund from Farmers Insurance, whereas McIlroy made 4 birdies in regulation value $175,000 and Wolff had three birdies for $135,000. Johnson, who confirmed the most rust, had two birdies for $75,000.

PGA Tour Charities allowed for on-line donations throughout the telecast, elevating greater than $1 million. The donations will proceed till Tuesday. When the exhibition ended, greater than $5.5 million had been pledged, beginning with the $Three million assure from UnitedHeath Group.

Players carried their very own luggage.

Television had a skeleton crew on the grounds — the play-by-play and analysts have been 200 miles away in St. Augustine, Florida, whereas host Mike Tirico was at his dwelling workplace in Michigan. The match went over 4 hours, primarily as a result of gamers have been at occasions held in place to give the six TV cameras time to get in place on the subsequent gap.

Mark Russell, the PGA Tour’s vice chairman of of guidelines and competitors, was the just one to deal with the flagstick. Bunkers didn’t want to be raked as a result of they have been the solely match on the course, which closed for the summer time final week.

“It was an awesome day,” McIlroy mentioned. “It was nice to get back on the golf course and get back to some sort of normalcy.”

The gamers wore microphones, although the banter was restricted and ended early.

Most of it got here from McIlroy, who had to make a brief par putt on the second gap for a push. He rolled it in and mentioned to Wolff, “I think you forget I’ve won two FedEx Cups that total $25 million. That doesn’t faze me, youngster.”

Fowler performed the greatest golf and staked his aspect to the lead with 4 birdies in a six-hole stretch round the flip, together with a 20-footer on No. 11 that was value two skins at $200,000. He raised his finger and McIlroy mentioned, “Did you hear all those cheers?” There have been no followers, and fewer than 50 folks have been at Seminole. All have been examined for the new coronavirus.

The final live competitors on TV was March 12, the first spherical of The Players Championship. It was canceled the subsequent day, together with different tournaments that both have been scrapped or postponed.

Next up is one other exhibition match on May 24 down the highway at Medalist, the place Tiger Woods performs when dwelling. Woods and Peyton Manning will face Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady in a match billed as “Champions for Charity” that can increase $10 million for COVID-19 reduction efforts.

The actual present is to return on June 11 with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas. The tour has mentioned it is not going to enable followers for at the least a month, and maybe longer relying on it goes. Players could have entry to constitution flights and a delegated lodge.